Feed-water heater



A. B. WALLEM.

FEED WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I. 1913.

1,438,200. Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEE1 l.

g altmnug A. B. WALLEM.

FEED WATER HEATER.

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I N VENTOR Patented Dec. 12, 122.

MEL B. WALLIEH, OF CYD, PENNSYLVANIA, AS$ IGN0R, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, "IO H. S. B. W.-COCHRANE CORPORATION, 0E PHIEADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

COB?OBATI ON OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

Application filed Riley 1, 1918. Serialflo. 231,850.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Am B. WALLEM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cynwg'd, in the county of Montgomery, State 0 Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Heaters, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference bem had to thea'ccompanying drawings, whic form a part thereof.

My present invention has for its general or primary object to provide improved means for preheating boiler feed water in a marine power plant. A more specific object of my inventlon is to provide desirable means for the preheating ofthe boiler feed water on shipboard with exhaust steam by means of an open, as distinguished from a closed, feed water heater, and my invention consists in part in an open water heater of novel constructionand especially devised for use on shipboard, and consists in part of the novel arrangement in which I connect an open feed water heater into a marine power plant. 1

The various features I of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,

however, and the advantages possessedby it, reference should 'be had to the accom-' panying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved open feed water heater;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of a marine power plant;

and

Figure 3 is a section taken similar; to Fig. 1, but on a smaller scale and showin a portion of the apparatus of Figplwit parts in relative positions difierent from those occupied by them in Fig. 1.

In the drawings A represents the.housing',

or tank of an open feed water heater. As shown, the heater is formed with, a steam inlet A adjacent its upper end, and receiv-- ing steam from the outlet of a separator B which may be of usual construction." A? represents a .shell or cover located in ,front of the inlet A and adapted to prevent water through the portion of the splashing ofl the water spreader, hereinafter referred to,-frgm passing throu h the steam 1nlet A. At it s upper end the ousing A is provlded with a water inlet A which opens into a water inlet chamber A fl the lower 7 wall of which is formed by a cup-shaped member A, havin at its bottom. The inner surface of the hollow member A at the margin of the aperture A is concaved to form a'spherical seat for the enlarged h'ead- C of a member 0 which passes througlnbut does not fill the aperture A. v I

The memberfC forms part of a water spreader which also comprises horizontally extending tray or bafile members D and it. As shown, the member C is tubular or cupshaped, with its enlarged head C in the- -of.comparatively small perforations D are formed. Perforations-D are also formed ripheral rim above the tray bottom D.- T e member E is similar to the member D though preferably its body portion E is smaller than, and is overlapped at all points around its periphery bglthe body Eortion D of the member D; mall ports 2 are formed in the body portion E and in the upper portion of the rim-of the member E." As shown, the members D and E are spaced apart and mechanically connected to one another by posts F and a bolt F. The latter passes through an aperturein the bottom wall of the member C 'and'has its head within the latter and vserves 'torigidlyj secure to ether the members'fC, D and To ma c more positive the pendulum action of the water spreading device formed by the parts 0, D and E occurring whenthe tank A is rocked ashereinafter explained a weight G is shown as beneath the member E.

'Locatedbelowthe' bottom of the water a central aperture A I secured by the bolt F.,to the water spreader spreader and appreciably above the normal water level in the lower portion of the housing is a perforated partition or diaphragm H. As shown, the partition H is formed with a plurality of small water discharge apertures H, and a larger steam pressure equalizing aperture H which is surrounded at the upper side of the partition by a flange. At the bottom of the housing is provided an outlet A for the heated water, and J represents an overflow valve for limiting the height of water level in the heater. valve J may be automatically operated in the usual manner by a float T which also operates a lever arm li and a rod 1 to thereby 'control'a boiler feed pump as hereinafter explained.

The steam pressure in the heater is limited I by an automatic back pressure and constant pressure valve K which automatically operates to permit uncondensed steam to escape from the heater when necessary to prevent an undue rise in pressure in the heater.

As shown, the valve mechanism K, which is of a known type, comprisesacasing mounted on top of the tank A and closing an aperture A in the wall of the latter. The chamber K. in the member K communicates with the interior of the heater tank Al through a pluralit of ports K each of which is controlled by a corresponding valve disc K. Each valve disc K is connected to a corresponding piston K coaxial with the valve discand working in an open ended piston chamber K.

The lower end of eachchamber K isopen to the chamber K, and the up er end.

of each chamber K is open, in t e construction shown, to a chamber K which is in free communication with the atmosphere through a port or ports K. disc K is urged towards its seat by a corresponding spring K ,'the upper end of which is engaged by a follower K common to all the springs. The follower K may-be raised or lowered to thereby simultaneously vary the tension of all the s rings K b rotation ofa'hand-wheel K which as a nut and screw connection with the crosshead or spring follower K. K represents a post in sliding engagement with the spring follower K to prevent rotation of the latter.

In the construction illustrated the re moval f air which tends to collect in the lower portion of the steam and water space proved water heater in a marine power The Each valve the reaaaoo plant illustrated in Fig. 2 the heater tank is located on a deck of the vessel above the turbine M and main condenser O. The water to be heated by the tank A is drawn from the condenser hot-well by the hot-well pump P and passes from the hot-well pump to the water inlet A? of the heater through the pipe Q, which, as shown, comprises a seal loop Q, adjacent the heater. The heated water is 'withdrawn from the tank A by the boiler'feed pump R which has its suction pipe T connected to the heater utlet A The operation of the boiler feed pump is automatically controlled by the float I through the lever arm ll, and rod 1 which is connected to the stem of the regulating valve S in the steam supply pipe S for the boiler feed pum R. The steam for heatin the water admitted to the tank A is supp led by the auxiliary exhaust line U into which the exhaust pi es U from the hot-well pump P, and U mm the boiler feed pump R, are shown .as connected. It will be understood that the auxiliary exhaust line will ordinarily in practice receive the exhaust steam from various other steam auxiliaries. Water of condensation from steam pipes, heating coils, etc., may be passed into the heater through the inlet A". In general such returns require little, if any, heating to raise them to the temperature of the heater. The outlet port from thechamber K of the valve K is shown as connected by the pipe W, and the valved branches W and W thereof to an intermediate stage of the turbine M and to the main condenser O.

In operation, the water to'be heated enters the water inlet chamber A at the top of the tank A- and passes from the latter into the hollow'part C of the water 'distrib- 105 uting device. The water is discharged from the part C in a large number of small streams through the ports C These streams for the most part fall on to the upper tray or baffle member D. The water 110 alling on member D escapes from the latter in fine streams, discharged through the orifices D or in a film-like overflow at the periphery of the tray. The bulk of the water thus passing away from the tray D falls on to the smaller tray or baflie member E and is discharged from the latter in small streams issuing through the ports E and in a film-like peripheral overflow. Eventually all of the water passing through the inlet A, plus the water of condensation formed in the space above the perforated diaphragm H collects on the latter and glasses in divided streams through the ports into the portion of the steam and water space below the partition H. The arrangements described insure thefine subdivision of the water to be heated and its slow passage downward from the water inlet chamber A. to the pool, of water in the lower the heating asaaoo end of the tank which is required to insure up'of the Water to a tempera-- ture but little, if any, below that of the steam entering the heater through the steam inlet port A, with the consequent condensation of a corresponding amount of this steam.

The effectiveness of the water distributing device formed by the parts 0, D and E is not materially affected by the rocking movements imparted to the heater tank as the vessel in which it is mounted pitches and rolls, for with the construction de-' scribed this water spreader is suspended through a universal joint and automatically adjusts itself as .required to maintain the eneral horizontal disposition of the parts l) and E as shown in Fig. 3. The suspended water spreader forms in effect a pendulumhaving a frequency of vibration much higher than the normal pitching and rolling movements of the ship, so that there is no tendency to a resonance oscillatin effect. The frictional resistance-to the oscillation of the water spreading device with a suspension of the general character shown tends to prevent and quickly damps out pendulum oscillations of the water spreader of any magnitude relative to the vertical. The use of an upper baffle D larger than the lower baflle E permits of a greater oscillation of the water spreader relative to the heater than would be possible if the two baflies were of the same size.

The well known special advantages of an 0 en feed water'heater as compared with a c osed water heater, such as its high eiii-.

ciency, the elimination of air from the water being heated by showering it throu h steam, and the small back pressure on t e auxiliaries required to permit the water to be heated as high as is desirable by the exhaust from such auxiliaries, are obviously of particular importance in a marine power plant in which they may be secured by the use of my improved heater.

When steam is supplied to the heater in excess of the amount required to properly heat the water then being fed into the heater the excess steam is discharged by the valve k and is assed by the latter through the piping W,- to the turbine M, where a portion of its energy may be utilized or it may be passed directly to the condenser through the pipe W The difference between the pressure maintained within the heating tank proper, and within the valve chamber K may be adjusted as and when this is desirable, by varying the tension of the springs K While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best form .of my invention now known to me 'those skilled in the art will understandthat many changes may be made including provisions for automatically adjusting said device when the tank .is rocked.

2. In an open feed water heater the combination with a heater tank havin steam and water inlets, of a water sprea ing device pivotally mounted within said tank in position to receive and spread the.'water entering the heater through the water inlet.

3. In an open feed water heater the cornbination with a heater tank. having steam and water inlets of a device, pivotally mounted in said tank with freedom to swing about an axis located above its center of gravity, for spreading the water entering the tank throu h said water inlet.

4. An open eed water heater comprising in combination a heater tank having steam and water inlets and a device for spreading the water enterin the tank through said water inlet pivota 1y mounted connected to said tank by a universaljoint the center of which is located above the center of gravity of said device.

5. An open water heater comprising. a housing formed with a water inlet chamber and with an enclosed steam and water space beneath said. chamber and communicating with the latter through an aperture in thebottom wall of said chamber, said bottom wall having an internal concave surface at the margin of said aperture, and a water spreading device comprising a tubular portion passing through but not fillin said aperture, and provided with an en arged head engaging said concave surface whereby said water spreading device is suspended with freedom for adjustment to compensate for rocking movements of the housing.

6. An open water heater comprising a housing formed with a water inlet chamber and with an enclosed steam and water space beneath said inlet chamber and communicating with the latter through an aperture in the bottom wall of said chamber and a water spreading device comprising a tubularportion passin through said aperture and connected wit in said inlet chamber to the tank by a ball and socket joint.

An open water heater comprising a shell or housing enclosing a steam and water space and havin steam and water inlets to said space an a water spreading device mounted in said housing and connected thereto by a universal joint to permit the device to turn about a center located above the center of gravity of the device, when said housing is rocked.

8} An open water heater comprising a housing formed with a water inlet chamber and with an enclosed steam and water space beneath said chamber and communicating with the latter through an aperture in the ing device being suspended. with freedom 15 for adjustment to compensate for rocking movements of the housing.

9. In an open feed water heater the combination with a heater tank having steam and water inlets, of a device for spreading 20 the Water entering the tank through said water inlet, said device comprisin bafiie members and a central Weight, an being pivotally mounted in said tank with free domto swing about an axis located above 25 its centre of gravity.

AXEL 13.. WALLEM. 

